Why Wire Brushing Matters — And How MADI Tools Changed the Game
When MADI was founded, we set out to solve some of the lineman’s oldest and most frustrating problems. One of the first issues we took on? Wire brushing.
For over 50 years, brushing conductors has been a neglected but critical part of the job. If it isn’t done right, connections fail. And when connections fail, the results can be catastrophic.
In fact, improper brushing has led to overheating, outages, and even tragic accidents. In one well-known case, the failure to properly brush conductors contributed to a power line falling and causing a fatal accident — a sobering reminder that the smallest details in our work can have the biggest consequences.
The Problem with Old Wire Brushes
Traditional brushes were never designed with linemen in mind.
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Uncomfortable & unsafe: The stiff bristles often jabbed through gloves or poked into legs when carried.
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Ineffective in the field: Because of their design, linemen would often minimize brushing, or skip it entirely.
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Expensive over time: Without replaceable parts, utilities had to buy new brushes again and again.
The result? Connections weren’t properly cleaned, which opened the door for failures that put both crews and communities at risk.
The MADI Difference
We knew there had to be a better way. So, we developed the MADI Wire Brush line — tools that make brushing safer, easier, and more effective.
Here’s how we changed the game:
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Integrated, Replaceable Brushes: Instead of throwing away a whole tool, crews can quickly swap out brush heads. That saves utilities money year after year.
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Ergonomic, Lineman-Friendly Design: No more jabbing bristles. Our designs are built for real linemen in real conditions.
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Proven Safety & Reliability: By making brushing easier, we encourage linemen to do it right every time — preventing outages and protecting lives.
The Payoff
The numbers tell the story:
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Utilities can see over 50% cost savings when switching to MADI’s replaceable brushes.
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Crews save time in the field, without sacrificing safety.
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Most importantly, linemen can work with confidence knowing they’re preventing the kind of failures that cost lives and damage trust.
Built for Linemen. Backed by Innovation.
At MADI, we believe innovation should always serve two goals: . Our wire brushes are just one example of how we listen to the challenges linemen face — and deliver solutions that make their work better.
Because in this line of work, the details matter. And when the details are right, everyone goes home safe.